Combined seat and automatic closure for dry closets



Nov. 15, 1938 w. A. CAMPBELL ET AL 2,135,489

COMBINED SEAT AND AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR DRY CLOSETS Filed Dec. 6, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet l W/L L MN A. C AMPBELL R BERT GI VE/VS NOV. 15, W38 W. A.CAMPBELL ET AL.

COMBINED SEAT AND AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR DRY CLOSETS Filed Dec. 6, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 2 M4 (/4174. CAMPBEL L ROBE/7T awe/vs Patented Nov. 15,1938 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED SEAT AND AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR DRY CLOSETSWilliam A. Campbell and Robert Givens, Carbondale, Ill.

Application December 6, 1937, Serial No. 178,300

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements providing for sanitation in dryclosets or out-houses commonly used in small towns, suburbs of citiesand in the country .where there are no water 5 systems.

More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved constructionfor a combined seat and automatic closure for dry closets embodyingsimple, inexpensive means maintaining the opening in the dry closet whennot in use normally closed to effectively prevent the escape ofunpleasant odors and fumes and also to exclude flies and other germcarrying insects from the human excreta to minimize the possibility ofthe spread of disease through contamination of food and drinkingsupplies.

It is a well known fact that flies and other insects will not beattracted to or breed in refuse to which light is not accessible and forthis reason a cover or lid is usually provided for closing the closetopening. However, it is a general tendency of many persons after havingused the closet to neglect to drop the cover or lideven though one isprovided and this necessarily results in the emanation of unpleasantodors and fumes in addition to inviting the spread of disease by flies,gnats and other insects.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide in a drycloset or commode an automatic closure disposed normally in closedposition underlying the opening in the closet yet capable of beingreadily moved to and maintained in open position in the use of thecommode.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined seat andclosure for a dry closet opening in which the closure is automaticallyoperable under the influence of the movement of the seat whereby whenthe seat is in a usable position the closure is moved from its normallyclosed to an open position.

A further object is to provide in such a dry closet construction meansfor automatically and quickly restoring the closure to its normallyclosed relation at any time the seat is unoccupied or not disposed inoperative position in the use of the closet.

A more specific object is to provide an attachment for any outside orsanitary pit toilet comprising a combined seat and closure device inwhich the closure is automatically actuated under the influence of themovement of the seat in conjunction with spring means providing asubstantially toggle action automatically. urging the closure to itsnormally closed position.

A further object is to provide in such an attachment, means which may beactuated as by the foot of the user to move the closure from itsnormally closed relation to permit use of the closet in the ordinary orany other desired manner.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds withreference to the accompanying drawings in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the same, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved combined seat and automaticclosure, the seat being shown in the position in which the closet isusable; I

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved toilet seat and closure,parts being shown broken away to illustrate the closed position of theclosure;

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the installation represented in Figure2 showing the closure in its normal closed position overlying theopening in the dry closet and with the seat disposed in raised,inoperative position;

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the seat in the position in which thecloset is made usable whereby the closure is disposed in open relationincident to the movement of the seat to operative position; and,

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 55 of Figure 3 looking in thedirection of the arrows showing in detail the construction of thecombined seat and automatic closure.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanyin'g drawings, Adesignates generally the side-walls of a receptacle disposed over asanitary pit or refuse vault, as is common in structures of thischaracter. The said side-walls of the receptacle may be constructed ofconcrete, as shown, and otherwise so designed to serve as a seat riserprojecting a suitable height above the closet floor.

A casing I0 embodying a top H and depending flanges l2 snugly fits overthe upper end portion of the receptacle and embraces the side walls Athereof. The forward portion of the casing top H is provided with a mainopening l3 preferably of the configuration indicated by dotted lines inFigure 1, and the rear portion of the top is provided with a secondopening [4 in communication with a ventilating shaft I5 having a screenI6 suitably disposed in its passage to prevent the entrance of insectsand foreign matter into the dry closet yet allowing ready access of airand otherwise creating a draft facilitating escape of odors and fumesinto the atmosphere.

The improved combined seat and automatic closure for the dry closetcomprises a pair of members independently mounted on opposite sides ofthe casing top H in proximity to the opening |3 therein. As best seen inFigures 2-4 inclusive, the seat member 20 having an ovalshaped opening2| is mounted as by hinges 22 for pivotal movement at the outer side ofcasing top H while the closure member 23 is pivotally sus-. pended inany suitable manner from the inner side of the casing top for swingingmovement in the interior of the receptacle. An expedient arrangement forpivotally suspending the closure 23 may embody a cross-piece 24 attachedto the underface of the casing top and provided with hinges 25 securedadjacent to one edge of the closure.

Since it is desired that the movement of the closure be influenced bythe movement of the seat, there is employed for this purpose a crank orlever 30 extending through the opening |3 and having one of its endspivotally connected as by hinges 3| to the closure member 23 and itsother end fixedly secured at 32, Figures 3 and 4, to the underside ofthe seat member 20 by fastenings 33, Figure 5. This arrangement of thecrank is such as to insure that the seat member be maintained normallyin raised position, Figure 4, and suitably spaced from the closure 23disposed in normal closed relation overlying the opening l3 in thecasing top. A contractile coil spring 35 also extending through openingi3 is connected to the seat member as by means of an ear 34, preferablyprovided on the crank 30, and to the closure member at 36 in anysuitable manner. The said spring 35 is of such strength as to readilyovercome the combined weight of the seat and closure member in theoperative position of the seat shown in Figure 4, and accordingly actsto urge said members toward each other to the normal spacing permittedby the crank 30. Thus, this novel arrangement in which the retractingspring is connected directly to the seat and closure, in conjunctionwith the crank 30, provides for a substantial spring toggle actionwhich, in the event the closet is unoccupied or in which there isotherwise no force exerted on the seat, automatically causes the seat tobe disposed in raised inoperative position with the closure 23positively maintained in normal closed relation overlying the opening |3in the top of the casing substantially as illustrated in Figure 3. Abuffer such as a rubber strip 31, or the like, may be employed aroundthe opening l3 on the underface of the casing top to cushion the forceof the retractive spring movement of the closure to its normal closedrelation and otherwise shut off odors and fumes from the receptacle andthereby cause the same to be more properly discharged into theatmosphere through the vent |5.

As best seen in Figure 2, a novel foot treadle arrangement is providedfor actuating the seat and closure in making the closet ready for use inthe ordinary or any other manner, as, for example, an act of micturitionby a male user while. standing whereupon it is most desirable that theclosure be capable of being actuated to open position by means otherthan lowering of the seat member under the weight of the user whenoccupied. As shown in Figure 2, this treadle arrangement preferablycomprises a lever 4| including a pedal 40 pivotally mounted in anysuitable manner to the receptacle A as at 42.

A chain 43 or mechanically equivalent connecting rod attached to thelever 4| at 44 is connected to the seat 20 by a strap 45 secured to theunderside of the seat by fastenings 46, Figure 5. It will therefore beseen that by this arrangement it is only necessary that the pedal 40 ofthe lever 4|, Figure 2, be depressed by the foot F, of the userwhereupon the closet is made ready for use by the resultant movement ofthe seat from the raised position shown in dotted lines, to the loweredposition represented in full lines, which movement necessarily causesthe closure member 23 to be actuated from its normal closed relation toopen inoperative position by the crank 3|! substantially in the mannerdescribed above.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be understood from the foregoingdescription that the improved automatic closure of the presentinvention, when it is desired the closet be made ready for use, isoperated under the influence of the movement of the seat 2| from itsnormal raised position shown in Figure 3 to the operative positionillustrated in Figure 4. Thus, in one manner of use when the seat isoccupied, the weight of the user moves the seat to operative positionand the force thus supplied to the crank 30 necessarily causes theclosure 23 to move on its pivot 25 to the open position represented inFigure 4, and accordingly, as long as the seat is held down the closureis retained in open position and the commode is made usable. When theseat is no longer occupied, the spring 35, which has been tensioned bythe movement of the seat and closure from the positions shown in Figure3 to those shown in Figure 4, acts to pull the seat and closure towardeach other and through crank 30 effects a substantial spring toggleaction therebetween causing the seat to rise to raised position andautomatically and quickly retracting the closure 23 to its normal closedposition overlying the opening |3. In this relation the rubber strip 31or the like serves as a buffer and otherwise seals the opening toprevent the escape of fumes and gases from the receptacle. Thus, underthe influence of the spring 35 effecting a quick, positive retraction ofthe closure 23, the opening l3 of the casing is automatically closed andsealed immediately after use of the closet thereby overcoming a generaltendency of many persons to neglect to use an ordinary cover when one isprovided and also preventing articles carelessly dropped from fallinginto the receptacle when the seat is uncovered possibly resulting inloss of valuables.

Referring to Figure 2 it will be understood that when it is desired toemploy the commode in another manner, as, for example, when a male userdesired to micturate while standing, it is only necessary that thetreadle 40 of the lever 4| be depressed whereupon the seat 20 is loweredthrough chain 43 and strap 45 from its raised position, represented indotted lines, to the full line position in which the closure is moved bycrank 3|] from its normal closed relation overlying the opening l3 to asuitable. open position whereby the closet is made ready for use. Ofcourse, when the foot of the user is removed from the treadle afterdesired use of the closet, the spring 35, by means of its spring toggleconnection to the seat and closure in conjunction with crank 3|), iseffective to quickly raise the seat and automatically retract theclosure to its normal closed relation substantially in the. mannerdescribed above.

While this invention has been described in detail with specificexamples, such examples are illustrative only since other embodimentswill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the teachings or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoingdescription is therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative only and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims in which the intent is to set forth allthe novelty over the prior art structures.

Having fully described the invention, what is desired to be secured byLetters Patent is:

1. In a dry closet, a casing having an opening in its top, a seat memberpivotally mounted on said top and disposed in normally raisedinoperative relation thereto, a closure for the opening in said top,said closure being pivotally mounted for swinging movement in theinterior of said casing and disposed in normally closed relationoverlying said opening, a spring for urging said closure member tonormal closed relation, and a crank connected to said seat and closurewhereby upon movement of the seat member to operative position in theuse of the closet said closure is swung under force of said crank toopen position, said spring with said crank effecting a substantialtoggle action between said seat and closure from operative position forautomatically moving said seat to its normally raised relation and saidclosure to its normally closed position overlying the opening in the topof the casing.

2. In a dry closet, a casing having an opening in its top, a seat membermounted on. said top in normally raised inoperative relation thereto, aclosure for the opening in said top, said closure being pivotallysuspended for movement in the interior of said casing and disposednormally in closed relation overlying said opening, a crank connected tosaid seat and closure, a spring urging said seat and closure toward eachother in a substantial toggle action and thereby urging said closure toits normal closed position, and foot treadle means for moving saidclosure to open position, said foot treadle means comprising a leverconnected to the seat whereby upon movement of the seat member towardoperative position under force of said foot treadle in making the closetready for use, said closure is actuated through the said crank to openposition.

3. In a dry closet, a casing having an opening in. its top, a seatmember pivotally mounted on said top and disposed in normally raisedrelation thereto, a closure for the opening in said top, said closurebeing pivotally mounted for swinging movement in the interior of saidcasing and disposed in normally closed relation overlying said opening,a crank extending through the opening in said top secured to said seatand pivotally connected to the closure, and a spring also extendingthrough the opening in the top connected to said seat and closure forurging said closure 7 member to normal closed relation, whereby uponmovement of the seat member to operative position in the use of thecloset, said closure is swung under force of said crank to openposition, said spring acting to urge said seat and closure toward eachother and in, conjunction with said crank having a substantial toggleaction therebetween from operative position for automatically movingsaid seat to its normally raised relation and said closure to itsnormally closed position overlying the opening in the top of the casing.

4. In a dry closet, a casing having an opening in its top, a seat memberpivotally mounted on said top and disposed in normally raised relationthereto, a closure for the opening in said top, said closure beingpivotally mounted for swinging movement in the interior of said casingand disposed in normally closed relation overlying said opening, acrank'extending through the opening in said top secured to said seat andpivotally connected to the closure, and a spring also extending throughthe opening in the top connected to said seat and closure for urgingsaid closure member to normal closed relation, and foot operated meansfor moving said closure to open position comprising a lever connected tothe seat whereby upon movement of the seat member to operative positionin the use of the closet said closure is swung under force of said crankto open position, said spring acting to urge said seat and closuretoward each other and in conjunction with said crank efiecting asubstantial toggle action between said seat and closure from operativeposition to automatically move said seat to its normally raised relationand said closure to its normally closed position overlying the openingin the top of the casing.

WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL. ROBERT GIVENS.

